ATV Connection Magazine

Should I Buy a Cannondale

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Posted by: JJFAT

I currently own an '88 Trx 250R which I love. However, I think its a little to old to spend money for all those mods i need to go racing MX. I'm thinking of buying a new quad to fix up. My question is which one should i buy, and thats why i put this post to hear from the public not a sales person who is trying to get some commission from a sales deal. My only doubt on the cannondale is reliability and weather the factory suspensions are good enough to hold me on an mx track. By the way I weight 245lbs. I would appreciate any feedback from an experienced racer on these questions.

Posted by: JJFAT

Thanks to all of your replies, I learned a little more about the "C-Dale". I'm also considering the other manufactures, and might just wait to see a "C-Dale" on the track for further observations. I'm posting more of my questions on the other manufacture Threads for feedback on the other machines. Who knows, Maybe I might never decide since the introduction of so many sports Quads.

Posted by: DS650DAVE

I finally rode a cannnibal (a demo at a dealer)it rocks and I think its a hair faster than the R.If your done with the R this is a great candidate for a replacement ...I do hwever like wide machines so gonna checkout the MOTO 440 soon as the dealer gets one... .this...maybe the third edition to my stable ..I give the cannondales 2 thumbs up !
THe EFI is great & love how it starts too. easily stalled if you are not used to it ...stalled twice til I got used to it.
Was riding wheelies w/in 2 minutes of getting on it...love it.
Very impressive machine!
Reliability ....????? we will see .

Posted by: DS650DAVE

HUH? never attempt jumps ?// I was jumping her about 25 ft.at dealership ...behind shop ,it flies well TOO.suspension is good.Never bottomed out once .

Posted by: Ryanstones

Hey JJ, the recomended weight limit for the cannibal is #245. Of course, the manual also says you should never attempt tricks or stunts such as wheelies and jumps:&gtBR>

Posted by: CdaleRacer

Well if I was going to buy a NEW current production quad it would be.. see ID and the bottom of my reply. JJFAT If you don't get a Moto 440 you will still have to do some mods to the other C-Dales for agressive MX racing. They need to be wider,have a steering damper,different handle bars, tires and wheels. In my opinion the one advantage you will have and money saved is in the C-Dale engine. It dosn't need anything I don't think. Maybe a race exhaust but more than likely thats it. Unless other HP freaks start racing engine modded Cannondales and you know they will before to long. As far as reliability, check through these threads and see what the OWNERS have said. I think the unreliable thing got blown out of porportion. I know the first units built had some problems but it was very few units Cannondale has updated everything that I know of weather it was some faulty part or something that could just be improved. I have a friend that races a 250R and he loves the suspension on my C-Dale. I've never asked him how much he weighs but I would say around 225 +/- 10lbs. And he jumps a 65ft tripple. I weigh 135lbs and I like it better than any other suspension on any stock quad also. So I would have to say the suspension is very user friendly. One more thing, the Cannondales hook up great, although they are very powerfull they aren't like a banshee that wants to spin the rear tires,but if you want it to spin most of the time you can make it. As far as a stock quad IMO the C-Dale is the way to go. A modded C-Dale (wider ect.), although mine isn't yet and I haven't been on one that has been,I still strongly think they would be the way to go. Sorry for such a long reply, but I hope I helped some.